Special Education Services

Deaf & Hard of Hearing

The Boise School District's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program serves qualified students from kindergarten through high school living in Boise. The program is staffed by teachers of the deaf, speech language pathologists, interpreters and an audiologist.

We work with parents, students and school personnel to meet the communication, academic and social needs of deaf and hard of hearing students. It is our philosophy to assess each student on an individual basis and tailor our program to meet those specific needs.

• Support & Services - Services we offer at the elementary and secondary levels in resource rooms and mainstreamed classrooms; general curriculum information; community transition services; and resource references.
• Audiology - Clinical services available throughout the District.
• Speech & Language Pathology

Qualification Criteria

• Available to students with slight to total hearing loss.
• Primary handicapping condition is deaf or hard of hearing.
• Relies on sign language as an expressive and receptive form of communication.
• Hearing loss is permanent or long term.
• Coordinated under an IEP.
• Applying for services

Interpreters

Our educational interpreters are available to provide sign language interpreting services to our qualifying student population.They adhere to the Educational Interpreter's Code of Professional Conduct as set forth by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and strive for professional growth by attending workshops, professional inservices and meetings.

• K-12 Interpreter Services
  • Collaboration on an ongoing basis with the educational team to provide for each child's individual needs.
  • Interpretation of all information in the mainstream classroom in the student's preferred mode of communication.
  • Voicing for the student and expressing the student's meaning in correct English.
  • Assistance during class work time with understanding texts, worksheets, etc. while making efforts to increase student independence.
  • Tutoring in the mainstream classroom and in the resource room. This may include explaining vocabulary, restating questions and explaining assignments.
  • Provide interpreting services for elective classes and school sponsored extracurricular activities such as club meetings, athletic events, field trips and recess.

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